Pictured: Prof. Jan Havenga, Centre for Supply Chain Management: Stellenbosch University; Dr. Cornelius Ruiters, Executive Director CSIR Built Environment;  Nadia Viljoen, Senior researcher and Scientific editor of the survey, CSIR; Cobus Rossouw, Chief Integration Officer, IMPERIAL Logistics

Unlike governments, multinational corporations do not see political boundaries when they consider a region. They regard the growth of consumer populations, the development of economies, the discovery of raw materials, the availability of labour and the ease which products and services can be moved into, out of and within that region. As a result, big business from abroad is turning its attention to developing regions such as southern Africa for its next growth frontier, with opportunities being meagre in already developed countries.

This is stated in the 9th State of Logistics™ survey for South Africa 2012, launched in Johannesburg during June 2013.

Nadia Viljoen, scientific editor of the survey and a researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) says, “We are proud to publish the 9th annual survey with our partners, namely Imperial Logistics and Stellenbosch University. The theme of this year’s survey is ‘Connecting Neighbours – Engaging the World.”

The 9th State of Logistics™ survey covers a comprehensive range of topics contributed by a variety of research experts in the field. This year’s edition marks a milestone, with much effort going into preparing logistics costs and freight flow results for 2011 and 2012, effectively closing the two-year time lag in previous reporting. In addition, the research process was opened to industry feedback through a pre-launch event that provided valuable input during the compilation of the survey articles.

Viljoen adds, “The State of Logistics™ survey for South Africa 2012 delivers a message of action. South Africa must address critical issues relating to the road freight sector, shift freight from road to rail and address rampant skills shortages and misalignment in the logistics sector. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) needs governments and the private sector to join hands for ambitious inland corridor initiatives and for developing a world-class maritime transhipment community for trade.”

Viljoen concludes, “We believe the 9th State of Logistics™ survey opens the floor for vigorous discussion between all parties involved to ensure that South Africa curbs its logistics costs as far as possible, while making the best use of opportunities presented, and, in fact, creating its own opportunities.”

To view the publication, go to www.csir.co.za/sol